Friday, April 27, 2012
Pain in the...feet
I hate shoe shopping. I just wasted a couple of hours looking for a pair of dress shoes. The combo of iffy toes, a bum ankle, orthotics and what I like to consider, a decent sense of fashion, but a limited expense account worked against me today. I had painfully narrowed down my choices working my way through two shoe stores and about a dozen different pairs. I was close to settling on a pair of Rockports and doing one final test lap which happened to take me by the Eccos. Hey, why not, let's give those a try (I hear they make a very good shoe), more expensive but looks like they're on sale too. After another chunk of time I settle on the Eccos (not my first choice of colour, but damn nice looking and comfortable). At this time I must give credit to sales guy at The Bay, really patient with me and quick to help. So I decide on the Eccos, go to the checkout and discover they're not on sale ! Argh. Had enough, heading home empty handed.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Easton Town Centre - Columbus, Ohio
I had a short business trip to Columbus, Ohio this week. My colleague who lives in Columbus recommended staying at the Marriott Courtyard in Easton rather than downtown (my usual preference). He said downtown is quiet at night and they'd be much more to see and do in Easton. Well we was right. I had a few occasions to walk around Easton Town Centre which is a model-town version of upscale main street with an impressive atrium-like mall at its centre. Lots of good restaurant choices, every shopping destination from the usual mall choices, large department stores to an Apple store and Tiffany's. I even caught a movie (The Hunger Games; review on Flixster soon) at the AMC.
But there were things missing. The feeling of it reminded me of a trip to Disney World where a friend said the boardwalk area was like being inside The Truman Show.
There were people walking on the sidewalks, but the massive parking lots advertising 1000's of parking spaces were a constant reminder that there were very few local residents and it was a suburban destination rather than a true true uptown experience. There were a few strollers, but not a lot of school age kids during the evening and after-school hours Add to that the extreme restriction of not allowing pets on the (private) streets; the absence of many visible minorities and lower income folks; and no people hurrying to/from home, resulted in a feeling of a manufactured cityscape.
A good try Columbus and I will stay in Easton again if I return, but I'm afraid it's not so easy to manufacture the true uptown street feel of a large city. Looking forward to being home to my uptown Toronto neighbourhood.
But there were things missing. The feeling of it reminded me of a trip to Disney World where a friend said the boardwalk area was like being inside The Truman Show.
There were people walking on the sidewalks, but the massive parking lots advertising 1000's of parking spaces were a constant reminder that there were very few local residents and it was a suburban destination rather than a true true uptown experience. There were a few strollers, but not a lot of school age kids during the evening and after-school hours Add to that the extreme restriction of not allowing pets on the (private) streets; the absence of many visible minorities and lower income folks; and no people hurrying to/from home, resulted in a feeling of a manufactured cityscape.
A good try Columbus and I will stay in Easton again if I return, but I'm afraid it's not so easy to manufacture the true uptown street feel of a large city. Looking forward to being home to my uptown Toronto neighbourhood.
A quick Hunger Games review; not PG !
Much better than I expected - I've read the book (and half was thru the second), but the movie is much more dramatic and emotional. I think Jennifer Lawrence does a fantastic job - I was impressed by her acting, but Woody of course steals every scene he's in. To comment on the appropriateness of the PG rating (after reviewing the formal Ontario classifications), the movie should definitely have a 14A rating because of the graphic violence and mature subject matter (note that it was given the appropriate, equivalent PG-13 classification in the US).
Friday, April 06, 2012
Welcome Mr. Bond
Via Flickr:
This private residence close to the Beaches Boscobel resort reminded me of an extoic Bond location.
This private residence close to the Beaches Boscobel resort reminded me of an extoic Bond location.
Welcome Mr. Bond
Via Flickr:
This private residence close to the Beaches Boscobel resort reminded me of an extoic Bond location.
This private residence close to the Beaches Boscobel resort reminded me of an extoic Bond location.
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